Source: NBA won’t discipline Smith for shove

The NBA will not discipline Cleveland’s JR Smith for his foul on Boston’s Al Horford in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, a league source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Wednesday.

Smith shoved an already airborne Horford in the back with 3:37 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Celtics’ 107-94 win on Tuesday night, resulting in a flagrant foul 1 on Smith following a review by the officials.

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Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said after Game 2 that the Celtics are “gooning the game up.” Several Boston players brushed off the remark and said they are just playing hard.

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Up 2-0 in the Eastern Conference finals, the Celtics are showing the vigor of an upstart contender. Meanwhile, LeBron James once again looks mired in the morass of organizational fatigue.

After the game, Smith said it was a “good call” and that he “blatantly” pushed Horford.

“It wasn’t like I was trying to low-bridge him or something to make sure he didn’t get it. It was a good, hard foul,” Smith said. “I can understand why they gave me a flagrant.”

After the shove, Boston’s Marcus Smart got in Smith’s face, prompting Smith to push the Celtics guard away and leading to technical fouls being called on both players.

Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue accused Boston of “gooning it up,” and the Celtics were OK with that assessment.

“Gooning? That’s a good word,” Celtics forward Marcus Morris said. “S—, we’re doing what it takes. Whatever it takes, every player, 1 to 15, whatever it takes, that’s what we’re doing. You call it what you want to call it. We’re just trying to get the win.”